Turbos open to Wyness loan
"We would like to help him get an opportunity, if not with us then maybe if there other unions looking for his services, we could look at a loan agreement." Turbos coach Jeremy Cotter on Ben Wyness
The Turbos are hoping to find a loan destination for first fiveeighth Ben Wyness so he get gets a taste of provincial rugby without being lost to the region.
Despite his form in club rugby and with the Hurricanes Development XV, with three first fiveeighths under contract, Manawatu are unlikely to need his services again this year.
The Feilding playmaker has previously expressed his desire to play provincial rugby and said he was prepared to look outside the union if that was what it took.
But Manawatu Turbos coach Jeremy Cotter hoped they could get the 24-year-old an opportunity to take the next step without losing him for good.
‘‘There may be opportunities elsewhere and I think Ben is capable of playing Mitre 10 Cup now,’’ he said. ’’We would like to help him get an opportunity, if not with us then maybe if there other unions looking for his services, we could look at a loan agreement.
‘‘We are a small union, we don’t like losing players. Ben has spent a lot of time in our environment so we wouldn’t like the idea of him playing against us or losing him on a fulltime basis. A loan agreement would suit all parties in the early stages.’’
Cotter said Wyness was only an injury away from a contract with Manawatu.
‘‘We still believe that Ben is a quality player,’’ he said. ‘‘He is still part of the wider training group and we are still working hard to help him get where he wants to get. But the reality is he is dependant in this union on injuries.’’
The problem for Wyness is all three of the contracted first fiveeighths are young and unlikely to leave the province anytime soon.
Incumbent starter Otere Black is 22, last year’s back-up Sam Malcolm is 21 and the returning Jade Te Rure is 23.
There would have been a fourth first five-eighth contracted to Manawatu had the union not granted an early release to Francebound Aaron Cruden.
Wyness was a star performing for the Turbos in preseason last year and trained with the team for much of the season.
There are just a handful of Turbos’ contracts left for Cotter to lock up for this year.
He confirmed Tim Cadwallader would predominantly be used a as a hooker.
Cadwallader went into last season as the No 1 hooker, but lost his spot after struggles with his lineout throwing.
Cotter said he was confident Cadwallader had improved.
‘‘Tim has impressed me with the way he has progressed in club rugby. He has not thrown the ball in a lot but his general play around the paddock has been good. His lineout throwing technique is a lot better than it was last year.’’
Cadwallader’s ball carrying and work on defence impressed last year and his ability to cover prop is a bonus.
Cotter said he had not placed a time on when Ambrose Curtis and Antonio Kiri Kiri were required to return to Manawatu to play club rugby. The contracted duo have been playing for Wellington’s Oriental-rongotai and Auckland’s University respectively.
Both are also training with the Hurricanes.
Cotter said he had agreed for Kiri Kiri to have an extended stint in Auckland.
‘‘His partner is up in Auckland and in some ways it allows him to experience something fresh and different. He had an agreement when he re-signed that would allow him to spend a bit more time in Auckland.’’
He said with Curtis’ Hurricanes commitments it was convenient for him to play in Wellington, but hoped to have him playing club rugby in Manawatu some time next month.